The leader of the city council said her party will not rest until all of Madeira Terrace’s arches are restored as councillors agreed to plough additional funding into the project.

At a special cabinet meeting this afternoon, councillors agreed unanimously to pump a further £3 million into the first phase of the scheme to restore 28 of the 151 arches on Brighton's seafront and create a new fully accessible lift.

Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Bella Sankey said there is an “urgent need for additional funding” to save this part of the city’s “unique heritage”.

The need for additional funding came after the leading bid for the scheme’s contract came in “significantly over budget”.

“For too long the terraces have been allowed to deteriorate,” said Cllr Sankey.

“The terraces look old and have become a safety concern.”

During the meeting she took a swing at previous administrations and said hers will not delay over the “complex” project.

The additional funding for the first phase will require the council to borrow more.

Parts of the scheme have been scaled back to reduce costs, although Councillor Jacob Taylor said the plans are “largely” the same.

Cllr Taylor, who is cabinet member for finance and city regeneration, said making headway with the first phase of the scheme will show that the arches can be made “great again” and will “hopefully” attract further external funding for later phases of the scheme.

Cost-saving measures to the £12 million first phase of the project will include removing planned benches below the deck and removing the deck planters and back-to-back seating, to make the walkway a flexible space.

Read more: Restoration of 12 Madeira Terrace arches postponed

Engineering cost reductions include changing the method for constructing the concrete deck and replacing cast iron facing plates and gutters with mild steel.

Cllr Taylor said the terraces in their current state are a “blight” on the city and fell into disrepair following years of under investment.

He said he was struck during a site visit by the extent to which the area is “below its potential”.

“Residents are frustrated and saddened by the state of Madeira Terrace and what that represents about us as a city,” he said.

Alternatives to agreeing to the extra funding were abandoning the whole project or going out to tender again for contractors to take on the project.

What will phase one entail?

Phase one of the restoration will include a new lift, full replacement of the upper deck with a waterproofed deck, infrastructure for canopies/shades and for pop-up events, and painting of the terraces with a system “guaranteed” to perform better in coastal conditions than traditional materials available to the Victorians, refacing and regreening the green wall where possible.

A new staircase will be created down from the deck next to Concorde 2/Shelter Hall, the reinstatement of the planted verges at Madeira Drive level, a more pedestrian-friendly layout in front of the terrace, providing beach access for all and including two new crossing points, and seating to the upper deck.

There will be space for events and food and drink.

“We are committed to the restoration of Madeira Terrace and want to proceed with it as soon as possible," said Cllr Taylor.

"That's why we called an urgent cabinet meeting to make a decision and get moving.

“While the sum is large, the opportunity to take a major step forward to restore some pride in the east of the city must not be missed.

“There is real urgency to this.”

During discussions, Councillor Tristram Burden spoke of his support for the extra funding.

He described the terrace as a “dilapidated, unkempt and neglected” part of the city and said many will be unable to reach the beach because there is no accessible lift.

As well as concerns over how the arches look, councillors spoke of the safety concerns surrounding the terrace’s poor condition.

It has been fenced off since 2014 due to safety fears.

Councillors also agreed that if something is not done now the arches will deteriorate further and costs will increase even more.

Councillor Tim Rowkins said the extra funding was a “no brainer” and that residents would “not forgive” the council if it did not go ahead.

Councillor Leslie Pumm said the restoration will help improve safety for women and girls in the area.

Cllr Sankey said lessons will be learned going forward on how the council manages its heritage assets.

“The terraces should never have been allowed to have deteriorated as they have,” she said.

The meeting heard the favoured contractor for the scheme is locally based and will provide two apprenticeship positions.

Further phases

Council Sankey said: “There has been strong public support for the restoration among residents and businesses, as well as from heritage organisations such as Historic England and the Victorian Society. We hope that completing this first phase will showcase how the terrace can be successfully restored.

“We are serious about finding a long-term solution to restoring and maintaining this iconic part of our historic seafront. As the project moves forward we will be seeking ideas from residents, local businesses and investors on how the restoration of the rest of the arches can be funded in a way Brighton-friendly way.

“This is just the first phase of the restoration. We will not rest until all of the arches are restored.”

Madeira Terrace was originally built as a covered promenade and viewing platform to attract tourists in the late 1800s. The Grade II listed structure opened to the east of Royal Crescent in 1890 and was later extended to meet what is now Sea Life Brighton.

At more than half a mile, it is considered the longest cast iron structure in Britain.